'It’s time to say goodbye to Wellington': Socceroos legend's call to cull A-League club

On the back of their 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Sydney FC, former Socceroos legend John Kosmina has called for the Wellington Phoenix to be booted from the A-League

Bookmakers Neds rate the sole Kiwi club in the Australian league are as $3.20 outsiders to record just their fourth win of the season when they take on Western Sydney this weekend, Neds installing the Wanderers as $2.15 favourites to get the three points.

Another loss would add fuel to Kosmina’s belief that the Nix should make way for another Aussie club.

“I have to be harsh and say I think it’s time to say goodbye to Wellington,” Kosmina said on Fox Sports’ Sunday Shootout.

“And I know that sounds harsh but when the A-League began, it worked. It was something that we needed, it added a bit of variety, it added a bit of colour.

“But now it’s season after season after season where they look like they’re going to do something and all of a sudden the wheels fall off badly ... the fact is they’re not really causing any threats to anyone, I think they’re not really doing Australian football any favours.

“Now I look at it from our development point of view: take Wellington out and put another Aussie team in, instead. It will benefit our game a lot more.”

It could be argued the one-time Arsenal player had an ulterior motive, as his current employers – Brisbane City – are angling for an A-League license, making an application to be part of the nation’s top-flight competition last May.

The team would be known as Brisbane City Gladiators and play out of Ballymore wearing a maroon, blue, white and gold strip.

Nonetheless, the Nix were seriously disappointing again on the weekend, with captain Andrew Durante bemoaning his side’s “sloppy” performance on the day he, personally, broke the A-League’s all-time appearance record.

“Yeah, it’s extremely disappointing. The milestone aside, it was a poor performance. We gifted them three goals,” Durante told Fox Sports.

“You come here, we gifted them three goals. They didn’t even have to work hard for them.

“I think outside of that they didn’t really create too many chances in that first half.

“But we just gave them three goals to start the game.”

However, the skipper said his last-placed team hadn’t given up on playing finals football this season.

“As long as there’s a chance, a mathematical chance to be in there, you’ve got to keep fighting,” he said.